Role

Chapter 5

Reeia had said the creatures sounded like shadow beasts, but as those
creatures were generally wicked in nature it was uncharacteristic behavior to
say the least. His aging mother chastised his curious nature but she was
doing so with the look she wore when she was proud of him, and so he thought
he had done well. In following years he would encounter the cat again in the
same area several times. Each time he would feed it, spend some time
together, and become just a little closer. He gave it the extremely unique
and original name of 'Shadow' and even taught it different behaviors.

Seasons passed and Barthomel was growing closer to his adulthood, Reeia was
growing older and more frail. She had lived a very long life, birthing
Barthomel when she was nearing her later years as it was. She explained that
this would be her last year tending to the forest temple and that this year
he would meet his father. Barthomel felt excitement as well as trepidation.

He had begun to suspect that the conversations his mother had in the night
each year could only be with his father, or an acquaintance of his. He had
gotten better at listening in and, guilty as he had felt for doing it, had
learned that his father hadn't much wanted a part in raising his city
dwelling son. A former shaman of Uller, he shunned civilization in all it's
forms and that seemed to include Barthomel, who seemed to wish to become a
paladin of all things.